Mike Stokes

Mike Stokes

From

Torphins, Aberdeenshire

Appearance

14-15 March, 1999

Money won

£32,000

Mike Stokes, from Torphins, Aberdeenshire, was a contestant on series 3 of the UK version of the show on 14-15 March, 1999. He walked away with £32,000 after incorrectly answering his £125,000 question.

The day before the first part of Mike Stokes's game was originally broadcast (14 March), Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis took part on a boxing match that was to unify the WBA, WBC, IBF, and Lineal Heavyweight Championship. After 12 rounds, Lewis, the British boxer, was considered by the UK media to be the overall better contender, having landed more punches than his American counterpart. However, a panel of three judges declared the fight a draw, after the South African judge scored the fight in favour of Lewis, the American one in favour of Holyfield, and the British one calling it a draw.[1]

As a result, just before resuming Mike Stokes's game the next day, the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? production staff decided to mock this decision by asking American boxing judges the following question, worth the Undisputed World Heavyweight Boxing Title according to the host Chris Tarrant:

Undisputed World Heavyweight Boxing Title

If a British boxer lands more punches on an American boxer, who wins?

• A:The British Boxer

• B:The American Boxer

• C:Neither

• D:Don King

Chris: You said C: Neither. It's the wrong answer. The right answer is Don King wins every time.